Announcing the 2025 Women In Leadership Awards Recipients

Women In Leadership Luncheon & Awards Recipients

The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will hold the 3rd Annual Women in Leadership Luncheon and Awards on Friday, March 7 at Crissey Farm in Great Barrington.

Following the success of last year’s Women in Leadership sold out event, the awards ceremony celebrates women in both official and unofficial leadership roles – from business owners and organization directors to volunteer mentors and experts in their fields – who have contributed to the Berkshire region in ways that might not otherwise receive adequate recognition. The nomination process, which was open from early October through November 6 of last year, asked for nominations in five categories: Mentor Leader, Rising Star, Equity & Justice Advocate, Hidden Gem, and Change Maker. The nomination survey was open to the public, and the nominees could be anyone who identifies as a woman and who does business in the Berkshires, whether in a for-profit or non-profit field.

The recipients were selected from over 70 nominations by a non-Board sub-committee and then submitted to the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

The 2025 Award Recipients in each leadership category are:

Rising Star –

Lindsay Cavanaugh, second generation owner of Mahaiwe Tent. Starting in the back dish room at Mahaiwe Tent during her middle school years, Lindsay has been a part of her family business for her entire life. After graduating from the Isenberg School of Business at the University of Massachusetts, Lindsay started full time at Mahaiwe Tent learning and working alongside her dad, Tom. In January of 2023, Lindsay purchased the business from her parents. Over the years, Lindsay has been able to upgrade inventory, create new efficient systems, continue to be a go-to community resource and lastly, purchase and build a brand-new warehouse in the Sheffield Business Park where Mahaiwe Tent will move their operations fully in April 2025.

Equity & Justice Advocate –

Liliana Atanacio Garcia, co-founder of Latinas413, a nonprofit organization that advocates for Latina representation in Berkshire County. Liliana is a current board member of the Flying Cloud Institute, which champions girls and women in Science, Technology, Engineering Arts & Mathematics. In recognition of her efforts, she received the prestigious "29 Who Shine" Award from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education in 2018.

Liliana is the Grant and Program Administrator at Mill Town Foundation, where she supports grantmaking related to the foundation’s activities, programmatic operations, and daily administrative functions. Prior to this role, she served as the Workforce Training Orientation and Youth Programming Manager at Berkshire Community College (BCC). While at BCC she organized BCC’s first Hackathon and worked to establish the "Eleanore Velez" Scholarship.

Originally from Mexico, the Berkshires became Liliana's home in 2009. A mother of two teen girls, she cherishes raising them surrounded by the Berkshires’ mountains and hills, rivers and streams, wildlife and trees. As a Latina woman, Liliana is passionate about traveling, gastronomy, and philanthropy. She finds solace and healing in the arts, music, and the region's natural beauty.

Hidden Gem –

Hillary Howard – Construct Inc. Hillary joined Construct in 2020. As Operations Director, Hillary is responsible for all day-to-day operations of the organization. Her strong organizational and problem-solving skills are an asset across all aspects of the organization’s work. She was instrumental in the success of Construct’s Designer Showhouse event in 2024 to raise funds for the organization’s renovation of Cassilis Farms in New Marlborough. She is currently managing the enormous task of starting that renovation of the building into affordable housing. Hillary has been in the housing industry in the Berkshires for several years, working as the office manager for an architectural practice prior to joining Construct. She is dedicated to making housing affordable in the Berkshires and her work at Construct exemplifies this. Hillary lives in Housatonic with her children.

Change Maker –

Jane Schwarz Burke - Founding Director of Flying Cloud Institute and Educational Leader.

Chemistry teacher, potter, and dancer Jane moved to the Berkshires in 1977. Combining her interests and love of teaching she and her filmmaker husband founded the Flying Cloud Institute at their home on a 200acre farmstead in 1984. Starting with six neighborhood children, it gradually grew. Together with local art and science professionals they provided authentic experiences in summer programs, after-school programs and classroom residencies that have reached thousands of children and teachers. They pioneered the integration of science, technology, engineering, art and math -STEAM. A school principal called Jane the velvet bulldozer because she never let challenges stop her. In 2000 she started the Young Women in Science Program so that twelve girls she knew could be inspired by women scientists. It grew to serve hundreds in a variety of programs. With her degree in Chemistry and Master of Arts in Teaching from Harvard, Jane was invited to serve on state and county STEM commissions. She chaired her local Conservation Commission, Cultural Council, and School Committee. She feels lucky to have opened doors to success for many children.

Mentor Leader –

Jodi Rathbun-Briggs, Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at Greylock Federal Credit Union. In this role, Jodi oversees the strategic direction of the commercial, consumer, and residential lending, as well as the operations and community development departments. With her team, she created the Community Empowerment Center, a safe space designed to help families and individuals achieve their financial goals at their own pace.

Jodi is deeply passionate about financial inclusion, economic development, and affordable housing. Through her leadership and advocacy, she creates opportunities for women to thrive in the workplace.

Jodi serves on the Common Capital Board of Directors and participates in various other committees. She holds degrees from Berkshire Community College and Western New England College and is currently pursuing further education at the UMass Isenberg School of Business. Jodi resides in Great Barrington with her husband, Cliff.

The 2025 Women In Leadership Luncheon and Awards will be on Friday, March 7 from 11:30am to 1:30pm at Crissey Farm in Great Barrington.

Join us to celebrate this year's award recipients, hear from our Power Panel and enjoy a delicious lunch!